Winners Announced!

First Prize
Photographer: Wyatt Shipp
Athlete Subject: M85 Phil Shipp
USATF Masters Summer Virtual Challenge, High Jump
Second Prize
Photographer: Suzanne Heilkoop, Netherlands
Athlete Subject: M35 Robert Hendriks
Worldwide Virtual Masters Challenge, 100 Meters
Third Prize
Photographer: Gemma Thomas
Athlete Subjects: M70 Dave Broadbent and W50 Anabelle Broadbent
USATF Masters Summer Virtual Challenge, 1 Mile
Honorable Mention
Photographer: Elizabeth Cane
Athlete Subject: W40 Debra Cane
Worldwide Virtual Masters Challenge, 2000m Steeplechase
Honorable Mention
Photographer: Mario Castillo, Costa Rica
Athlete Subject: M45 Javier Bustos Cordoba
Worldwide Virtual Masters Challenge, 10 KM Race Walk
Honorable Mention
Photographer: Tom Danielson
Athlete Subject: W45 Jo Rupp
Worldwide Virtual Masters Challenge, 2000m Steelplechase
Honorable Mention
Photographer: Carol Dixon
Athlete Subject: M60 Thomas Sputo
Worldwide Virtual Masters Challenge, Weight Throw
Honorable Mention
Photographer: Penny Ingles
Athlete Subject: W60 Katherine E. Good
Worldwide Virtual Masters Challenge, 200 Meters
Honorable Mention
Photographer: Jonathan Ridgely
Athlete Subject: W60 Susan Lynn Cooke
Worldwide Virtual Masters Challenge, 200 Meters
Honorable Mention
Photographer: Wyatt Shipp
Athlete Subject: M85 Phil Shipp
USATF Masters Summer Virtual Challenge, Discus Throw
Honorable Mention
Photographer: Samiyah Williams
Athlete Subject: M50 Antonio Palacios
Worldwide Virtual Masters Challenge, Long Jump

As most of you know, I have been photographing Masters Track and Field for over 15 years. Many of you are familiar with my work through Facebook, where I use the name “Rob D’Avellar.” My work appears primarily in National Masters News, but it has been used by many other news media as well. I am a professional photographer, but I have never charged for any of my Masters work. It is my gift to the Masters community in exchange for all the wonderful friendships around the world I have made over the years.

We are living in particularly stressful times.  The pandemic has put the Masters world on hold, and I am saddened by the fact that I will not be able to photograph my athlete friends in national and international competitions this year.  I applaud the organizers of the Worldwide Virtual Masters Challenge and the USATF Masters Summer Virtual Challenge to keep the sport alive.   I encourage participation in both of these events.

Since I cannot photograph the Challenge in person, I am sponsoring this contest to encourage participants to share their Challenge efforts through photography.  Contest entries may appear in National Masters News and other outlets.  I am also offering the cash prizes described below.

I look forward to the day when we all can be together again in a stadium.

Contest Rules:

  1. Photographs must be of athletes entered in the Worldwide Virtual Masters Challenge or the USATF Masters Summer Virtual Challenge.  The images must be taken during the time period prescribed for the competitions:   July 18 to August 2 for the Worldwide Virtual Masters Challenge and August 3 to 17 for the USATF Masters Summer Virtual Challenge.
  2. Prizes will be awarded to the photographer of the image, not the subject athlete in the photo.  First place will be $500; second place $250, third place $125.
  3. Each entry must be attached to a separate email.
  4. Photographers may submit to up to 5 JPEG images per athlete subject per Challenge.  For example, if a photographer has shot 3 different athlete subjects in a single Challenge, the photographer may submit up to 15 images, or 5 images for each of the 3 athletes.  If those same 3 athletes compete in both Challenges, the photographer may submit up to 30 images, or 5 images for each of the 3 athletes in the first Challenge and 5 images for each of the 3 athletes in the second Challenge.
  5. The email for each entry must include the following information:
    1. Name of the photographer
    2. Email address of the photographer
    3. Name of the Challenge (either Worldwide Virtual Masters Challenge or USATF Masters Summer Virtual Challenge)
    4. Name of the athlete who is the primary subject of the photograph
    5. Name of the event
    6. Result of the event (for example, time, distance, height, etc.)
    7. Date of the event
    8. Location of the event
  6. The filename of each image must include the last name of the photographer and a sequential number in 3-digit format.  For example:  if a photographer named Smith submits 3 entries, the filenames of the images should be labeled Smith 001, Smith 002, Smith 003.   This single numerical sequence should be used per photographer regardless of the number of different athlete subjects in the images or whether one or both of the Challenges is represented in the images.
  7. Each email entry with attached image should be sent to RJDavellar@yahoo.com.  The deadline for all entries is September 1, 2020.
  8. I will judge the entries on the basis of visual impact and technical excellence.  “Best image” is a subjective concept.  The winners will be “my favorite images.”  I will determine the winners by September 30, 2020.
  9. By submitting the images, the photographer agrees that the images may be used in news media, such as National Masters News or MastersRankings.com. No image will be used in commercial advertising.
  10. Failure to follow these rules may result disqualification.  Questions may be addressed to me, Rob Jerome, at RJDavellar@yahoo.com.  This contest is not affiliated with USATF or WMA.  I am the sole arbiter of this contest and all decisions are final.

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